Game apparatus



June 15 1926. 1,589,312

J. T. HILL GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1923 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN T. HILL, or LAKEWOOD, 01110.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed September 26, 1923. Serial No. 664,876.

This invention relates to a game apparatus which I have termed lawn shinney, said game being adapted to be played on a lawn or other suitable indoor or outdoor place.

In the present game, while the method of playing is somewhat similar tothe old and well-known game of shinney, it involves apparatus which improves the game and renders unnecessary the making of holes, or otherwise disfiguring the lawn or other place where the game is played.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations of parts'which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings whereinI have disclosed tne preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of all the parts thereof suitable for seven players; Fig. 2 is a top plan view and Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the so-called bases, both on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4 is a view of one of the clubs or so-cal-led shinney sticks, the same being shown on a larger scale than in Fig. 1. p

The apparatus employed in playing this game consists of a number of so-called bases 10, a so-called home plate 11, a series of shinney sticks 12, and a ball 13. The game can be played by four or more players, the number of players determining the number of bases 10 to be used, and there being one less base than players. In playing the game, the bases are grouped around the home plate, the bases being equal distances apart, and all the same distance from the home plate, as shown in Fig. 10.

lVhile the shinney sticks 12 need not of necessity be formed'as here shown, I prefer that they each consist of a shank 12 and a head 12 in the form of a sphere of about the size of the ball 13.

The home plate likewise may be variously formed, but I prefer that it be simply in the form of a ring, or annulus, of suitable height so that the driver can drive or otherwise move with his shinney stick the ball into the annulus and have it retained there in. It may, however, be in the form of a shallow receptacle or pan having an up standing rim so formed as to tend to retain the ball therein when the ball rolls over the edge and lands inside of it.

The bases 10 are preferably of a particular construction, It is preferred that the top be dished or tapered inwardly somewhat as shown at 10 and that at the center there radius of curvature corresponds substantially to the radius of the ball or sphere at the end of the shinney stick. The taper or dished effect 10, together with the central spherical depression 10 will allow the shinney stick to be quickly placed properly at the center of the base. At the bottom of thespherical depression 1O I prefer to place an opening 10 so that if desired, the bases can be definitely positioned in a lawn by the use of a nail or spike inserted from the top through the opening 10. The bases may be formed of sheet metal, and they are so shown. They may, however, be formed of wood, or of other materials out of which the bases can be readily turned.

It is important that there be a certain relationship of color designations or otherwise between the shinney sticks and the bases. To be more specific, one of the bases and one of the shinney sticks should bear corresponding identifying data. I prefer to give each .be a spherical shaped depression 1O whose base and its corresponding shinney stick a I certain color marking. head of the shinney stick and the depression of the base can have the same color. It-is important also that the other bases and shinney sticks corresponding to them all bear,

different colors, or other identifying markings. For example, the center of one base and the head of one shinney stick may be blue in color; another base and shinney stick may be red in color; another yellow, etc. Likewise, it is important that the shinney stick which is used by the driver have the same color as one of the other shinney sticks in use, for a reason which will. be explained presently.

Assuming that the bases are arranged as shown, around the home plate, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the game is played as follows: One of the players is selected as the driver; the other players each selects a shinney stick and a base corresponding in color to it. Then the players move one or more bases to the right or left as may be decided, and place the heads of their shinney sticks in the spherical depressions of the bases before them. Each will now have a shinney stick of one color and a base of a different color, the driver having a shinney stick corresponding incolor to the shinney stick in the hands of one of the other players. The driver now For example, the

endeavors with his shinney stick to cause the ball to be driven from a point outside of the series of bases into the home plate, and the other players with their shinney sticks endeavor to prevent the ball being driven into the plate. It a player removes his shinney stick from his base the driver, if he has the opportunity of doing so, may insert his.

shinney stick in the base, whereupon said player is deprived othiswbase andbecomes the driver. Any other p.1 er having abase may likewise insert his shinney stick into any other base than his oWn when the player corresponding to that base has TGIHOVGLl'hlS shinney stick from it, whereupon the driver has the opportunity of; taking the empty base and inserting his shinney stickinto it beforeit becomes occupiedby the shinney stick'of one ofthe other players.

It is one ofthe essential :tcaturesof the game that each player has a basediiferent in color from the color of his shinney stick for the reason that it isoneof the desirable a shinne stick correspondin to the color of the driveNs-shinney stick must forfeit his base and become the driver. in otherwords,

the player acting as the driver ceases to be:

the driver, first, in the event the ball is driven into the home plate; second, in the event he can'insert his. sh'i 1-mey stick into an unoccupied base; and third, in the event he discovers that the base and shinney stick of'any one base player correspond in color.

I prefer thatthe color-be applied to the base 111 the spherical depression where the: head of the shinney stick ordinarily rests,-

in order that it may be made ditlicult for the driver to determine (unless the base player removes his shinney stick from the base) the color oi the base occupied' by the shinney stick of any particular color.

Usually the game is ended when each player has had a turn iii-driving the ball, the player who bGCOlDQS'tllQ- driver the least meander of times winnlng the game.

It will thus be seen thatv the\ particular constructionillustrated of the bases, is an important feature of the invention, as is also the fact that the bases and shinney sticks have corresponding color designations with each base and corresponding shinney stick differing from all the remainder, and thatv there be two shinney sticks having similar color or other designations.

I have previously stated that while Ifiprei'cr that the identifying markings between.

the bases and shinney sticks be obtained by giving them corresponding color designations, nevertheless, other, ICiGIllllfYlIlglllilTliings or data may be utilized to show-to' what' bases the several-shinney sticksbelong;

Having described my 1I1V8l1'l3'l011, l. claim:

1. A game apparatus. such. as: described comprising a series of bases adapted tribe; arranged around a central part or: home plate to which a. ball maybe'driven, each; base having a dished or inwardly sloping: top with a central depressionsadaptedito: receive the head of astickused-r in driving;

or propelling the ball;

2. A game apparatus such asdescribed comprising a series of bases adapted to. be:- arranged around a central part or: home:

plate to: which a ball'may be'driven, each base having a dished or' inwardly sloping top with central sphericalshaped depressicn adapted to receive the head: ofastick used in drivingor propelling the ball.

3. A game apparatus such as described comprising a seriesrof bases adapted to be arranged about a central part or home plate into which a ball may be d 'iven, and a correspondii-rgnumber of sticks for driv ing the ball, each stick and one OfthG bases having a connnon color or other identifying marking ditl'e1=in '-fion.i the others.

a. A game apparatus such asxdescribecli comprising a. series of bases adapted to be;

arranged abouta central part or home plate into which a. ball may be driven, and a corresponding number of sticks fordriving the,

ball, each stickand one of the basesliaving a common color or other identifying mark-' ing differing from the others, and there being anveiztrastick having the same identitying marking as one of the first named. sticks.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto my signature.

JOHN T. HILL... 

